Rivers & Smith Comparison

When Rivers enters the huddle he's joined by arguably the league's best running back (LaDainian Tomlinson) and premier tight end (Antonio Gates). In most of the Chargers' games this season, Rivers just needed to hand the ball off and complete the high percentage throw.

But last week in the 23-13 win over the Super Bowl champion Steelers, usually conservative Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer needed to crack open the offensive playbook, and Rivers responded.

Playing against a voracious defense, the composed Rivers threw for a career-high 242 yards with a pair of touchdowns and consistently fit balls into small spaces. In a tremendous compliment, the blitz-mad Steelers backed off their pressures late in the game to protect their shredded secondary.

"He tries not to put his team in a difficult situation right now, knowing that he's a young guy," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "In other words, he doesn't try to do it himself, like an Elway would do it. 'If I don't do it, no one is going to get it done.' I think he relies on the guys around him."

Using members of his terrific cast, Rivers has a luxury the 49ers are still developing. Should Smith get some world-beating options on offense, he and Rivers could have bright futures as the next generation of fine quarterbacks. ​

When Rivers enters the huddle he's joined by arguably the league's best running back (LaDainian Tomlinson) and premier tight end (Antonio Gates). In most of the Chargers' games this season, Rivers just needed to hand the ball off and complete the high percentage throw.

But last week in the 23-13 win over the Super Bowl champion Steelers, usually conservative Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer needed to crack open the offensive playbook, and Rivers responded.

Playing against a voracious defense, the composed Rivers threw for a career-high 242 yards with a pair of touchdowns and consistently fit balls into small spaces. In a tremendous compliment, the blitz-mad Steelers backed off their pressures late in the game to protect their shredded secondary.

"He tries not to put his team in a difficult situation right now, knowing that he's a young guy," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "In other words, he doesn't try to do it himself, like an Elway would do it. 'If I don't do it, no one is going to get it done.' I think he relies on the guys around him."

Using members of his terrific cast, Rivers has a luxury the 49ers are still developing. Should Smith get some world-beating options on offense, he and Rivers could have bright futures as the next generation of fine quarterbacks. ​

I don’t think Rivers is getting ENOUGH credit. He isn’t just making the “high percentage throw” like Captain Dumpoff used to. :icon_smile:

Take the Pittsburgh game, for example. He threw deep outs, the fade to Floyd, the beautiful throw to Parker on a crossing-route, even the TD to Gates had to be placed on his right shoulder or it isn’t completed. It’s not like the receivers are wide open.

Rivers is making this offense go, when Marty lets him play. It really isn’t the guys around him.

no kidding, with all the hype around the supposed comeback player of the year(dnice) throwing fifteen screens a week why arent these pros realizing rivers is making tough passes all over the field. we havent had a very succesful screen game in quite some time. high percentage passes are seldom seen for the chargers. rivers is raw. give the young buck the credit due.

When Rivers enters the huddle he's joined by arguably the league's best running back (LaDainian Tomlinson) and premier tight end (Antonio Gates). In most of the Chargers' games this season, Rivers just needed to hand the ball off and complete the high percentage throw.

But last week in the 23-13 win over the Super Bowl champion Steelers, usually conservative Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer needed to crack open the offensive playbook, and Rivers responded.

Playing against a voracious defense, the composed Rivers threw for a career-high 242 yards with a pair of touchdowns and consistently fit balls into small spaces. In a tremendous compliment, the blitz-mad Steelers backed off their pressures late in the game to protect their shredded secondary.

"He tries not to put his team in a difficult situation right now, knowing that he's a young guy," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "In other words, he doesn't try to do it himself, like an Elway would do it. 'If I don't do it, no one is going to get it done.' I think he relies on the guys around him."

Using members of his terrific cast, Rivers has a luxury the 49ers are still developing. Should Smith get some world-beating options on offense, he and Rivers could have bright futures as the next generation of fine quarterbacks. ​

Playing against a voracious defense, the composed Rivers threw for a career-high 242 yards with a pair of touchdowns and consistently fit balls into small spaces. In a tremendous compliment, the blitz-mad Steelers backed off their pressures late in the game to protect their shredded secondary.​